The link above leads to a remarkable account. So clear and heartfelt. And perfectly tuned to the times.
Who better than an immigrant to display affection and concern for her "second" country, and why she must leave. Hopefully, not forever.
My father was born in Cyprus. He essentially taught himself English. His dream was to come to the United States, which he did and wound up at the University of Missouri, where he met my mother, a student at Stephens College.
At first, Peter G. Phialas anticipated going to medical school, but his aversion to blood and love of language steered him toward a masters and Ph.D at Yale and eventually Oxford in England. He chose to teach Shakespeare, which he did his entire career at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
A life-long democrat, my dad died in December of 1999, a month short of George W. Bush taking the oath to serve as president of the United States.
Nor did Pete witness the two elections won by Barack Obama.
And luckily, did not have to endure the cruelest and most shocking election in the history of the country, a sketchy, shadowy, if not corrupt, takeover by a con man and his throng of quick-fingered cronies.
But i can hear what my father would be saying. And he'd be saying it often, too.
Thus, immigrant stories that reflect profound love for the United States of America carry special weight for me. Rebecca Mead's masterpiece should be read by all Americans. It's long, but totally worth the effort.
No comments:
Post a Comment